Receptacle closure



y 3, 1951 A. L. LANGEL, 2,559,361

RECEPTACLE CLOSURE Filed Aug. 25, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 3, 1951 A.L. LANGEL 2,559,361

RECEPTACLE CLOSURE Filed Aug. 25, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 TIT IN V EN TOR.

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July 3, 1951 LANGEL 2,559,361

RECEPTACLE CLOSURE v Filed Aug. 25, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

Jdmzzl large; B Y lffi m am @41 55/M Patented July 3, 1951 RECEPTACLECLOSURE Adrien L. Langel, Chicago, 111., assignor to Chicago MetallicManufacturing Company, Chicage, Ill., a corporation of IllinoisApplication August 25, 1948, Serial No. 46,071

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a new and improved receptacle closure and moreparticularly to a manually operable closure for use with ash trays orreceivers or similar receptacles.

Closures of this character are used to close the bottoms of shallow,open receptacles having walls sloping inwardly toward the closure, therebeing a second receptacle chamber below the closure and normally coveredthereby. Means are provided associated with the closure member ormembers whereby manual pressure or movement will open the closure memberor members to permit ashes or waste upon the members to drop into thelower chamber. Spring means are provided for returning the closuremembers to closed position upon release of the opening means. It isdesirable that the closure members fully clear the lower edges of theopening in order that the contents of the upper open receptacle may becompletely deposited in the lower closed chamber. It is also desirablethat the closure be substantially tight in order to smother any fireremaining on partially smoked cigars or cigarettes. Another featurewhich is desirable is the provision of a construction in which theclosure members fit, when in the open position, in a relatively smallcircumferential area about the opening so that the major portion of thearea of the receptacle may function to receive and transmit materialplaced thereon.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedmanually operable closure for receptacles.

It is a further object to provide a construction of this character whichfully clears the opening in the receptacle when the operating parts ofthe closure are in the open position and which fully closes the openingwhen the parts are in the normal or closed position.

It is also an object to provide a construction in which the closuremembers are designed so as to occupy a minimum of space adjacent theopening when in the open position.

It is another object to provide a closure mechanism which is simple indesign and construction and adapted for commercial production and use.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

I have shown certain preferred embodiments of my invention in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan view of one form ofconstruction with the closure blades or levers in closed position;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 1 but showing the partsin open position;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken through the construction ofFigure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, showing theactuating members of the construction of Figures 1 to 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a modified form ofactuating mechanism;

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section of the construction of Figure5;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the actuatingmechanism of the construction of Figures 5 and 6;

Figure 8 is a plan view of a modified form of construction;

Figure 9 is an elevation of the form of construction shown in Figure 8;and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, showing theactuating mechanism of the constructions of Figures 8 and 9.

Referring first to the form of construction shown in Figures 1 to 4inclusive, the device comprises the cone top 2| having the inner conicalsurface 22 sloping to a circular opening 23. This member 2! is shown ascarrying a cigar clip or supporting member 24. The dish-shaped bodymember 26 has an outturned upper flange 2'! secured to the under face ofthe circumferential rim of the cone of the top member 2] This bodymember 26 has an inwardly extending fiat base portion 28 which has acircular opening therein co-extensive with the opening 23 in the conemember 2|. The actuating plate 29 is located below the base 28 of thebody member, this plate 29 being circular in plan view and also havingan interior circular opening coinciding with the opening 23 in the conemember 2 l.

The three similar levers or closure blades 3i are located above theactuating plate 29 and below the flat base portion 28 of the body member26. The bottom of the assembly is closed by the cover member 33 whichhas an upturned flange .34 secured to the lower portion of the outercylindrical face of the body member 26. This cover 33 also has acircular opening aligned with and co-extensive with the opening 23 inthe cone member 2|.

The levers or closure blades 3| are supported on pivots 35 which aresecured in the horizontal flat portion 28 of the body member 25. Theactuating plate '29 is provided with upturned lugs 31 which fit innotches 38 formed in the outer or tail portions 39 of the levers 3 l.

The horizontal flange portion 28 of the body member also carries the pinMl upon which is fitted the intermediate portion of the hairpin spring42. One leg of the spring 42 fits against the upturned lug 43 formed inthis portion 28 of the body member 26-. The opposite leg of the spring42 fits against a lug 45 struck upwardly from the actuating plate 29.Thus, the tendency of the spring 42 is to normally maintain the parts inthe position in which they are shown in Figure 1 with the actuatingplate 29 at its limit of counter-clockwise movement. This movement islimited by the openings 36 in body portion 23, the lugs 31 passingthrough these openings, and by opening 44 through which lug 43 passes.

The cam 41 is struck upwardly from the actuating plate 29 and passesupwardly through arcuate opening 49 formed in the horizontal flange 28of the body 26. The bracket 59 extends inwardly from the vertical wallof the body 26 and supports a sleeve 52 extending upwardly through theconical portion 22 of the cone top 2 I'.

The push rod 54 extends through sleeve 52 and carries the roller 55 atits lower end. This roller rests on the sloping surface of the cam 41. Afinger piece 56 is carried by the upper end of the push rod 54.

The operation of this form of the device will be apparent from thedescription. With the parts in the position shown in Figure 1, adownward pressure on the finger piece 55 forces the push rod 54downwardly and the roller 55 acts against the cam 41 to move theactuating plate 49 in the clockwise direction. This movement is againstthe force of the spring 42. During this movement, the lugs 31 coact withthe walls of the notches 38 in the levers or blades 3| to rotate thoseblades in the clockwise direction about their pivots 35 to bring them tothe open position, as shown in Figure 2. Upon release of the push button56, the action of the spring 42 rotates the actuating plate 29 in thecounter-clockwise direction and restores the parts to the position inwhich they are shown in Figures 1 and 3.

It is to be noted that each blade 3i has two arcuate surfaces 59 and 69contacting with similar surfaces formed on the adjacent blades. Thearcuate surface 59 is concave and the arcuate surface Iill is convex sothat the three blades engage to completely close the opening 23. In thepreferred form of construction, as shown in the drawings, these arcs 59and 55 are struck on a radius of the same length as the radius of theopening 23 so that when the blades are opened, as shown in Figure '2,the opening 23 is completely cleared by the blades which have a minimumamount of movement because of this curvature. The blades also occupy aminimum area outside of the opening when in the open position.

The form of construction shown in Figures 5 t '7 inclusive is identicalwith that shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive with the exception of theactuating mechanism. This mechanism is best shown in Figures 6 and '7.The actuating plate ill of this construction has a struck-up arm II withan elongated slot 13 formed therein. The actuating lever 15 is providedwith a pivot opening I fitting on a pivot pin 11, which pin is securedto thebody member 18 of this form of construction. This actuating leverI5 has an inturned arm 89 fitting in the slotted opening 13 in theupturned arm II of the actuating plate 10. The bracket 83 is formed fromthe body member 19 and carries the sleeve 84 into which fits the pushrod 85. This push rod 85 is provided, on its lower end, with a roundedactuating button 86 and, on its upper end, with the finger piece 81. Theactuating lever I5 is provided, at its upper portion, with ahorizontally inturned curved actuating flange 89 which is engaged by therounded button 86 with the push rod 85. The blades and spring of theconstruction of Figures 5 to '7 are the same as the construction ofFigures 1 to 4, and the same is true of the actuating lugs 31 fittinginto the notches 38 in the blades 3|.

In the operation of this form of construction, a downward push on thefinger piece 81 causes the button 86 to thrust downwardly on the arcuateportion 89 of lever I5. This swings the lever in the clockwise directionabout its pivot, as seen in Figure '7, and the arm 89, through contactwith the sides of the slots I3, moves the actuating plate 10 in theclockwise direction to open the blades by means of the lugs 31L Uponrelease of pressure on the finger piece, the slots return to theirnormal or closed position.

The form of construction shown in Figures 8 to 10 differs in detail fromthose previously described, although its main features of operation aresimilar. The blades 9| are pivoted at 92 in the base member 93. Atlocations inwardly of the pivot, these blades 9| are provided withslotted openings 94 into which fit pins 95 carried by the rotatingactuating plate 91. The actuating plate is held on the base by means ofthe cover plate 98 which is secured to the base by screws 99. Theactuating plate 91 is provided with upwardly extending studs Hill, toeach of which is secured one end of a coil tension spring IIII. Theopposite ends of these springs are secured to studs I92 which arefixedly secured to the cover plate 98.

The blades in this form of construction are shown as having meetingfaces I95 and I96 which are at an angle of to each other so that thethree blades unite to cover the entire area of the opening I08 formed inthe actuating member and similarly aligned opening I99 formed in thebase member.

In this form of construction, the cam member III is shown secured to theactuating member 91 by screws H2. The roller H4 is carried by push rodH5 which extends through bracket H6 and the sleeve II'I carried by thebracket. The top of the push rod H5 carries the finger piece II9. Itwill be apparent that the springs IUI normally maintain the parts inclosed posi tion, as shown in Figure 8. Downward pressure on the fingerpiece H9 causes the roller II4 to thrust the cam III in the clockwisedirection, as shown in Figure 8. This rotates the entire actuating plate91 in the clockwise direction and causes the pins 95, through contactwith the walls of the slots 94, to swing the blades 91 to the openposition. Upon release of pressure on the finger piece H9, the blades orlevers 9! return to their normal or closed position.

While I have shown certain preferred forms of my invention, these are tobe understood to be illustrative only as it is capable of furthervariation to meet differing conditions and requirements, and Icontemplate such modifications as come within the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a receptacle closure, a body member having a circular openingtherein, a plurality of uniformly spaced swinging members pivotedadjacent the opening and adapted to close the opening, a circularrotatable member adjacent theswinging members, said circular rotatablemember having a circular opening therein aligned: with the opening inthe body member, coacting means upon the circular rotatable member and.said circular rotatable member serves to swing the swinging members toclosed position and to open position clear of the aligned openings,spring means normally holding the circular rotatable member in positionwith the swinging members closing the circular opening in the body, acam carried by the said circular rotatable member, and a verticallymovable member carried by the said body member with a fingerpiece abovethe said body member, the lower end of the vertically movable memberengaging the cam whereby downward movement of the vertically movablemember acting against the cam serves to rotate the said circularrotatable member to swing the swinging members to open position clear ofthe circular opening in the body.

2. In a receptacle closure, a body member having a circular openingtherein, a plurality of identical swinging members pivoted adjacent theopening in a common plane parallel to the opening, said swinging memberseach having meeting edges comprising convex and concave portions, theportions meeting at points which points are brought together at thecenter of the circular body opening when said swinging members are inposition to close the circular body opening,

the convex portions of the meeting edges being formed on radii not lessthan that of the circular opening, whereby the opening may be cleared bya minimum outwardly swinging movement of the swinging members, and meansfor jointly operating said swinging members.

ADRIEN L. LANGEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 436,404 Dallmeyer et al. Sept.16, 1890 1,049,554 Wooden Jan. '7, 1913 1,243,086 Marks Oct. 16, 19171,270,311 Marks June 25, 1918 2,311,568 Parkinson Feb. 16, 19432,362,547 Fuerst Nov. 14, 1944 2,380,377 Baylis July 31, 1945 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 4,848 Great Britain 1898 640,025 France Mar.19, 1928 380,870 Great Britain Sept. 29, 1932

